Lagos—Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, confessed that the 2015 general election campaigns almost divided Lagos along ethnic line and civil service administration.
This came even as the Lagos State Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, urged the civil servants in the state to give their continue support to him and his incoming team inorder to continue the excellent work in the state saying, “My mission is to make Lagos civil service the best in Africa.”
Fashola and Ambode spoke at a “Thank You” meeting with the state civil servants at LTV ground, Alausa, Ikeja,, organised to show appreciation for voting for All Progressives Congress, APC, candidates in the last Saturday Governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Fashola, who noted that the task ahead is daunting both at the national and state level, noted that 2015 election campaigns recorded an unprecedented hype compared to previous elections i the country.
According to him, “I have been involved in four elections. In 2003, I was the Chief of Staff to Governor Bola Tinubu, 2007 and 2011 as candidate while 2015 as governor. But not in any of those elections have I seen a campaign that tried to divide our public service.”
Explaining the heights attained by the election campaign, Fashola said, “I have never seen posters in front of the state secretariat, Alausa and these posters distorted the reality of our condition in service.
“The posters alleged that the minimum wage wasn’t paid, that leave bonuses have been withdrawn. That was dangerous for public service. They didn’t reflect the reality.
“But today have decided to keep the model that we have developed. We have become the flagship government in Nigeria. Today, I like to thank all of you irrespective of the side you voted for,” Fashola added.
I will run open government – Ambode
Earlier, Ambode while addressing the civil servants, promised to run an open government that would thrive on the contributions of residents of different backgrounds and groups.
He added that he would welcome criticisms of his policies and programmes from workers for the best interest of the state and its residents.
Ambode said, “When we make mistakes or we are trying to make wrong policies, you should be bold enough, as you have always been that what we are doing is not in the best interest of the people.
Ambode who said he saw his emergence as governor as a call to service, urged civil servants to walk the journey with him through improved service delivery.
